Tasmania, Rebuilding the Forest IndustryForestry Tasmania, now named “Sustainable Timber Tasmania” has recently been given authority to log large tracks of forest that maybe important to the Bushwalking Fraternity. It allows for access to special species timber, by partial harvesting, from October 2017 and permits native forest harvesting on, newly converted, Production Forest Land from 1 July 2018 [see the fact sheet below] Guy Barnett is hell bend on making forestry great again, even though it has been a money losing proposition for along time [if not controversial] he aims to double production this year. Under the Tasmania Forestry – Rebuilding The Forest Industry – Act 2014 They have added huge areas of Forests as Future Potential Production Forests and are now converting those areas to production Forests. Some of those areas impact The Minnow River, The Badger Range, Mother Cummings and Ironstone Mountain tracks, Meander Falls track and Winter Brook Falls tracks just to name a few. I am quite surprised that us Bushwalkers have not kicked up a stink over the impending destruction of some of our favorite tracksYou can read some of the facts below and you maybe interested in the links below. The Future Potential Production Forests link will allow you to see how your area maybe impacted.cheers BK

FACT SHEET: Forestry (Unlocking Production Forests) Bill 2017The Forestry (Unlocking Production Forests) Bill 2017 amends the Forestry (Rebuilding the Forest Industry) Act 2014, Crown Lands Act 1976, Forest Management Act 2014, Nature Conservation Act 2002 and the Forest Practices Regulations 2007 and implements a new management framework for the area of land currently identified as future potential production forest land. The Bill: • converts 356 000 hectares of future potential production forest land, located outside of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, to Production Forest Land; • permits native forest harvesting on Production Forest Land from 1 July 2018; • makes the Minister for Resources responsible for approval of forest harvesting on Production Forest Land, that is Crown land; • allows the Minister to make Production Forest Land available, to the private sector, for forest harvesting, for periods of up to 10 years; • allows for access to special species timber, by partial harvesting, from October 2017, consistent with existing statutory provisions; • permits Forestry Tasmania to complete operations in transition coupes specified in the Forestry (Rebuilding the Forest Industry) Act 2014 but otherwise prohibits Forestry Tasmania from harvesting Production Forest Land; and • permits Forestry Tasmania to meet its statutory obligations to make available to industry a minimum of 137 000 cubic metres of high quality sawlogs, with logs sourced from within, and outside of, the permanent timber production zone land.

The Future Potential Production Forest Land dataset is the authoritative source for information on land managed as Future Potential Production Forest land (FPPF) under the Forestry (Rebuilding the Forest Industry) Act 2014.

Worth bumping this thread again now that the moratorium (temporary prohibition) on the logging of FPPF (once deemed "Future RESERVE Land") zones ends this Wednesday 8th April, 2020.

I must say anxiety is quite high knowing forestry works currently continue pretty much business as usual whilst we are restricted to our homes during the Covid-19 crisis. I like to believe they would do the right thing - but their track record isn't very encouraging.

It appears the government is required to put any potential transfer of FPPF land to production zoning before parliament...so in theory currently this is impossible? If anyone has further updates on current measures for people to stay informed and involved - please spread the word. Some more useful links are listed below to add to those from above.